Anti-slide lock for an actuator pedal



Jan. 21, 1964 J. l.. HoELLERlcH 3,118,339

ANTI-SLIDE LOCK FOR AN ACTUATOR PEDAL Filed Dec. 2l, 1962 f 7&#614 Z020 Z5 2g@ m. MageZ/e/JLC 23 5J United States Patent O M 3,118,339 ANTI-SUBE LOCK FOR AN ACTUATOR PEDAL John L. Hoellerich, Wilmette, Ill., assignor to Ludwig Drum Co., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 246,435 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-421) This invention relates to an anti-slide lock for an actuator pedal for a portable-type foot operated musical device such as a foot operated cymbal (commonly known as a hiahat) With particular reference to a portable-type foot operated cymbal, the total weight of the device is not great and the forces applied to its support stand during the repeated actuation of the pedal tend to slide it along the floor. At intervals, the device must be returned manually to its original position, a distraction to the musicians performance. Various arrangements have been provided, usually in connection with the base legs of the stand, for preventing sliding of the device but these have been unreliable. Moreover, they have normally required manual adjustment and are also objectionable from the standpoint of continuously presenting sharp projections capable of scratching or becoming entangled with other equipment during the frequent handling and packing to which these devices are subjected.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an anti-slide lock activated by foot applied forces that tend to cause sliding of the instrument and effective to resist any tendency to slide.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an antislide lock that automatically assumes an operative position during setup of the instrument and that automatically assumes a safety position when the instrument is folded for handling and transportation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one type of foot pedal actuated device to which the invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the mounting of an anti-slide lock within a heel plate, with parts thereof broken away and sectioned and with the lock being shown in active gripping position; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the heel plate and illustrating, in full lines, the lock in active gripping position, and illustrating, in broken lines, the lock in concealed position within the heel plate.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as applied to a pedal actuated cymbal or hi-hat 1t? which includes a hollow upstanding post structure 11 equipped with a rubber seat 12 for supporting the lower cymbal 13 and having a vertical rod 14 movably dis posed therein and projecting thereabove to mount the upper cymbal 1S. The post structure 11 is iixed upon a vertically elongated casting 16 having a base portion 17, a curved or bowed support leg 18 rising eccentrically therefrom and a hollow mounting collar 19 at the upper end of the support leg and centered above the base portion 17.

A tripod folding ieg assembly 2t) supports the casting 16 against tipping and, as illustrated, is preferably of the well known flat base type. The tripod assembly 2t) includes a collar 21 slidable along the post structure 11 between a lowermost position in which it is illustrated and an upper position (not shown) for which the leg assembly is folded and extends along the post structure 11. Angle struts 22 pivotally attach to the collar 21 and to a cor- Patented Jan. Z1, 1964 responding one of three base legs 23, each of which is pivotally attached to the base portion 17 of the casting 16.

Finally, the device is equipped with a foot board assembly consisting of a heel plate 24 for flush engagement against the flooring material on which the instrument is situated and a foot pedal 25 having its rear edge pivoted to the front edge of the heel plate and having a toe end equipped with a ilexible strap 26 suitably connected to the lower end of the slidable actuator rod 14. The position of the heel plate 24 is stabilized by a radial rod 27 that is removably insertable into the base portion 17.

In FIG. l, a foot is illustrated in playing position upon the foot board assembly and during normal playing action the foot applies forces both to the foot pedal 2S and to the heel plate 24. These forces are directed so as to induce the entire stand to move or slide along the supporting flooring material. In accordance with this invention an anti-slide lock 3) (see FlGS. 2 and 3) is tted within the heel plate 24 to respond to the force applied to the heel plate and grip against the flooring material to prevent undesired sliding ofthe stand.

ln the preferred form of the invention, as illustrated herein for purposes of disclosure, the heel plate 24 is a hollow casting open across its bottom face to define a cavity inwhich the lock 3d is located and is mounted for swinging movement about a transverse pivot aXis. Accordingly, the heel plate 24 has its side walls arranged to receive a common pivot pin 28 that spans the heel plate cavity and engages in the side walls to provide the transverse pivot axis. The lock 3i) is in the form of a sheet metal stamping having a dat body 31, a gripping jaw 32 integral with the body and depending from along one transverse edge, and depending side flanges 33 integral with the body and depending from opposite end edges thereof. rihe side anges 33 have aligned apertures that receive the pivot pin 2g.

Interiorly along its rear edge the heel plate 24 is provided with a recessed abutment ledge 34 engageable with the rear transverse corner edge of the lock to determine its gripping position. The jaw 32 preferably has a series of teeth 32T projecting below the bottom plane of the heel plate 24. When the lock is not in use it is swingable to a concealed relation within the front half of the heel plate cavity (see the broken line illustration of FlG. 3) and in this position the jaw teeth 32T project upwardly and are completely masked by the main body of the heel plate.

The lock is freely swingable between its limit positions, with the position of the lock being dependent only upon the orientation of the heel plate. Thus when the stand is collapsed and the foot board assembly is inverted and located alongside the upstanding post structure 111, the lock is in its concealed position whereas when the stand is assembled and is positioned upon the oor, the lock swings freely to an exposed gripping position. The lock is particularly useful on carpeted surfaces but Where the stand is to be placed on a iiooring surface that cannot be marred, the lock is manually dipped to its concealed position where it will remain so long as the stand is not tipped.

The free swinging action of the lock affords a maximum of convenience to the user. More importantly, the heel plate location of the lock insures that the forces which tend to set up the sliding movement will now be responded to directly to set up counter forces tending to oppose such movement.

While the invention has been illustrated as applied to a hi-hat, it will be appreciated that it is also applicable to pedal actuated base drums and similar instruments.

lt should be understood that the description of the preferred form of the invention is for the purpose of comply- -ing with Section 112, Title 35, of the US. Code and that lv the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit.

What is claimed is:

l. ln a door mounted foot board assembly for operating a portable musical instrument, said assembly including a heel plate for -liush supported engagement upon a floor surface and a foot pedal having a pivot connection to the heel plate and having a toe end equipped with facilities for actuating said instrument in accordance with movement of said foot pedal, the improvement wherein said heel plate comprises a hollow body open across its lower face to denne a downwardly opening cavity bordered laterally by fore, aft and side walls, a pivot pin spanning said cavity transversely of said heel plate and engaged in said side walls at corresponding points intermediately thereaiong, and a lock in said heel plate and having a grip establishing edge extending transversely of said heel plate, said jaw having side portions pivotally engaged on said pin to control swinging movement of said lock from a concealed inactive position wherein said edge projects upwardly within said cavity adjacent the front thereof to an exposed in-use position wherein said edge projects generally downwardly of the heel plate adjacent the rear of said cavity.

2. ln a door mounted foot board assembly for operating a portable musical instrument, said assembly including a heel plate for llush supported engagement upon a floor surface and a foot pedal having a pivot connection to the heel plate and having a toe end equipped with facilities for actuating said instrument in accordance lwith movement of said foot pedal, the improvement wherein said heel plate comprises a hollow body open across its lower face to define a downwardly opening cavity bordered lateral-ly by fore, aft and side walls, said aft wall having a downwardly facing abutment ledge extending therealong at a location recessed upwardly in said cavity, a pivot pin spanning said cavity transversely of said heel plate and engaged in said side walls at corresponding points intermediately therealong, and a lock in said heel plate and comprising a sheet metal stamping having a hat body spanning said cavity transversely of said heel plate, a gripping jaw integral with said body and depending from along one transverse edge, and side anges integral with the body and depending from opposite end edges thereof, said side flanges having aligned apertures engaged on said pin to control swinging movement of said lock from a concealed inactive position wherein said edge projects upwardly within said cavity adjacent the front thereof to an exposed in-use position ywherein said body abuts said ledge and said edge projects generally downwardly of the heel plate adjacent the rear of said cavity.

3. In a Idoor mounted mechanism for operating a portable musical instrument, in combination a foot board assembly comprising a heel plate for supported engagement upon a `door surface and a foot pedal having a pivot connection to the heel plate and having a toe end equipped with facilities for actuating said instrument in accordance with movement of said foot pedal, said heel plate cornprising a hollow body open across its lower face to denne a downwardly opening cavity bordered by fore, aft and side walls, and a lock in said heel plate and having a grip establishing edge extending transversely of said heel plate, said jaw having spaced side portions and means mounting said side portions from said side walls for swinging movement of said side portions about an axis transverse of said cavity to control movement of said lock from a concealed inactive position wherein said edge projects upwardly within said cavity adjacent the front thereof to an exposed in-use position `wherein said edge projects generally downwardly of said heel plate adjacent the rear of said cavity.

References Cited in the le of this patent German printed application T6643 `lCX-SlC .inne 7, 1956. 

1. IN A FLOOR MOUNTED FOOT BOARD ASSEMBLY FOR OPERATING A PORTABLE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HEEL PLATE FOR FLUSH SUPPORTED ENGAGEMENT UPON A FLOOR SURFACE AND A FOOT PEDAL HAVING A PIVOT CONNECTION TO THE HEEL PLATE AND HAVING A TOE END EQUIPPED WITH FACILITIES FOR ACTUATING SAID INSTRUMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH MOVEMENT OF SAID FOOT PEDAL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID HEEL PLATE COMPRISES A HOLLOW BODY OPEN ACROSS ITS LOWER FACE TO DEFINE A DOWNWARDLY OPENING CAVITY BORDERED LATERALLY BY FORE, AFT AND SIDE WALLS, A PIVOT PIN SPANNING SAID CAVITY TRANSVERSELY OF SAID HEEL PLATE AND ENGAGED IN SAID SIDE WALLS AT CORRESPONDING POINTS INTERMEDIATELY THEREALONG, AND A LOCK IN SAID HEEL PLATE AND HAVING A GRIP ESTABLISHING EDGE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID HEEL PLATE, SAID JAW HAVING SIDE PORTIONS PIVOTALLY ENGAGED ON SAID PIN TO CONTROL SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID LOCK FROM A CONCEALED INACTIVE POSITION WHEREIN SAID EDGE PROJECTS UPWARDLY WITHIN SAID CAVITY ADJACENT THE FRONT THEREOF TO AN EXPOSED IN-USE POSITION WHEREIN SAID EDGE PROJECTS GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY OF THE HEEL PLATE ADJACENT THE REAR OF SAID CAVITY. 